Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is expected to be sidelined for at least 1 to 2 weeks due to a bulging disc in his back, according to ESPN. The report does not specify how or when Irving sustained the injury, and there is no target date for his return.
The Mavericks are already without All-Star guard Luka Dončić, who is recovering from a calf strain suffered during a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas. Dončić’s return date is also uncertain, with the team announcing on December 28 that he would be re-evaluated in one month.
This news is a significant setback for the reigning Western Conference champions, who have struggled since Dončić’s injury. The Mavericks have lost five of six games since the Christmas loss, dropping from a 19-10 start to a 20-15 record.
The upcoming schedule does not favor the Mavericks, as they face five of seven games against Western Conference playoff contenders, including matchups with the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets (twice), and Oklahoma City Thunder. Additionally, they have a challenging three-game stretch from January 22-25 against the Timberwolves, Thunder, and a rematch with the Boston Celtics. There is a possibility that the Mavericks could play all these games without both Dončić and Irving.
